Mass Christian gathering in Udalguri to pray for redressal of their grievances

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 14, 2024

Christians in large numbers came forward to pray seeking God’s intervention for a peaceful election and redressal of their grievances at the Udalguri Nalbari Playground on Thursday.

The prayer meeting was organized in the backdrop of all that is happening in Assam, especially the passing of the controversial Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024 and the attack on Christian institutions by certain elements in society just before the upcoming Lok Sabha election 2024.

A threat by a radical Hindu group to missionary schools across Assam to remove iconography and chapels from their premises has led to concerns among principals and church bodies in the state, prompting police to take note.

In the past week, principals of several missionary schools across the state have written to their local police asking for protection against untoward incidents, with the head of a group called the Kutumba Suraksha Parishad declaring Thursday as the “deadline” for them to accede to his demands.

The mass gathering was organised by the Christian Coordination Committee, Udalguri district for peace and harmony in the country, in which more than 25,000 people took part. The event aimed to unite people from diverse backgrounds with the common goal of fostering peace and harmony. 

The peaceful and orderly mass prayer commenced at 10:20 am and concluded at 11:50 am, bringing together over 25,000 individuals representing various Christian denominations including Baptist, NELC, Roman Catholic, BELC, CNI, and more. 

Notably, the gathering comprised people from different ethnic, and linguistic communities of Assam such as Boro, Adivasi (Tea Tribes), Santhal, Garos, Rabhas, Gorkhas, and the Assamese. 

People from all corners of the district, from Atterikhat TE to Mazbat TE and from Bhairabkunda in the north to Kalaigaon in the South joined the prayer meeting. This spontaneous participation reflected the concern and anxiety of the people regarding the need for justice and equal treatment of all citizens in matters of faith, culture and practices. 

The event commenced with the soul-stirring singing in God’s praise and adoration, setting a reverent atmosphere for what followed. 

Reverend Susil Daimari, Secretary of the Church Growth Department at BBC delivered an inspiring message emphasizing the urgent need for peace and harmony in the country.

Following the message, attendees were invited to pray collectively for several crucial prayer points, focusing primarily on justice, peace and harmony across the nation. The fervent prayers of the gathering reflected the collective desire for a more unified and peaceful society.

The Christian Coordination Committee, Udalguri district expresses its appreciation of all participants for their unwavering support and commitment to the cause of the day. Such initiatives serve as a beacon of hope, uniting communities across diverse backgrounds in pursuit of a common goal.